In the wake of alarming methane leaks detected from oil and gas infrastructures worldwide, a recent United Nations report has unveiled a concerning lack of action from governments and companies. Since the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) began monitoring methane emissions last year, over 1,200 alerts have been issued. However, only a mere 1 percent of these major plume alerts have prompted substantive responses to plug the leaks.
“We had expected the response rate to be substantially higher,” remarked Roland Kupers, the lead architect of the program, during a presentation at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.
The low engagement is particularly troubling as many notified parties are signatories of a global pledge initiated three years ago to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, voiced her concern: “Governments and oil and gas companies must stop paying lip service to this challenge. They should recognize the significant opportunity that this system presents and start responding by plugging leaks that are spewing out climate-warming methane.”
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, possesses 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. It has been a significant driver of global warming, contributing to about 0.5 degrees Celsius of the temperature rise since the mid-19th century.
Experts emphasize that capping leaks from oil and gas wells and equipment is one of the fastest and most cost-effective strategies to combat climate change. Not only does addressing these leaks mitigate environmental impact, but it also makes financial sense for companies, as lost methane equates to lost product.
Despite commitments, methane emissions from the oil and gas industry have remained at record highs since 2019. Over 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, and approximately 140 companies have joined the UN’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, committing to tackle unintentional methane outputs. Yet, the lack of substantial action underscores a disconnect between pledges and practice.
Reference(s):
UN: Countries, companies lag in response to methane emissions report
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